Pine Nut Crusted Pacific Salmon Food

PANKO-CRUSTED SALMON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• In a small bowl, mix together the panko, parsley, lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Drizzle with the olive oil and stir until the crumbs are evenly coated. Set aside.
• Place the salmon fillets, skin side down, on a board. Generously brush the top of the fillets with mustard and then sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Press the panko mixture thickly on top of the mustard on each salmon fillet. The mustard will help the panko adhere.
• Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or large heavy, ovenproof pan. When the oil is very hot, add the salmon fillets, skin side down, and sear for 3 to 4 minutes, without turning, to brown the skin.
• Transfer the pan to the hot oven for 5 to 7 minutes until the salmon is almost cooked and the panko is browned. Remove from the oven, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Serve the salmon hot or at room temperature with lemon wedges.

SALMON WITH A PINE NUT CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (170C).
• Spread the breadcrumbs and pine nuts in a baking dish and bake for 10 minutes. (Chopped almonds may be used in place of the pine nuts.).
• Wash the salmon fillets.
• Pat dry, and brush with the Dijon mustard.
• Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the salmon steaks, pressing to adhere to the fish.
• Heat the oil, butter and shallot in oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add salmon, crumb-side down and cook until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Turn fish over.
• Transfer skillet to oven.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes more, until cooked.
• For the sauce: Reduce the lemon juice in a saucepan to 1 teaspoon.
• Add the heavy cream and boil until slightly thickened.
• Whisk in the butter until smooth. Add the fresh dill.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.

PINE NUT-CRUSTED FISH

Steps:

• In a blender or the bowl of a food processor, combine the bread crumbs, garlic, oregano, grated lemon peel, salt, and pepper, and process until well blended. Add the pine nuts and process until they are evenly chopped. Place the bread crumb mixture in a shallow bowl large enough to hold a single fish fillet. In another bowl, beat the egg.
• Dip each fillet into the beaten egg and then coat each side with the bread crumb mixture. Place the breaded fillets on a piece of waxed paper or a plate.
• Heat a large skillet and add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. On medium heat, cook the fillets for about 4 minutes for every 1/2 inch of thickness. Turn the fish and cook on the second side for an equal amount of time. If you need to cook the fish in batches, add more oil for each batch.
• Serving & menu ideas
• Serve something fresh and colorful on the side: Tomatoes & Onions with Mint (page 205), Broccoli Tomato Salad (page 204), or Broccoli Slaw (page 208).

NUT-CRUSTED SALMON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Combine pistachios and panko in a shallow bowl.
• Mix cream cheese, Dijon, lemon juice, dill, and hot pepper sauce together in a bowl; season with salt and pepper.
• Pat salmon fillets dry, then coat in cream cheese mixture on both sides. Roll in pistachio mixture, patting crumbs in place. Place fish on a nonstick baking sheet.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 15 minutes; cooking time will depend on the thickness of the fish.